A research network has examined how quality management is implemented in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The research has taken place within the framework of the Leonoardo Da Vinci pogramme. Managers of SMEs in the metalworking and food processing industries were asked what the consequences of the implementation of quality management were for the qualification needs of employees. This book presents the survey results as two sector studies. Analysed are competitive and specialisation tendencies of the sectors and company concepts of "Quality" and "Personnel" including current profiles of quality-related skill demands on staff as well as current training areas in the companies. Special objectives are: Anticipation of qualification needs for preventive vocational training strategies; Documentation of good practice and typical barriers as support for practitioners within SMEs and training bodies.

Inhalt
Project design.- Survey design.- Guidelines for a problem-representative sample.- Database.- 1: Metalworking.- Metalworking Smes: Target Group and Sample.- Quality Concepts of Metalworking Smes.- Personnel-Related Concepts of Metalworking Smes.- Quality and Personnel Concepts of Metalworking Smes - Summary.- 2: Food-Processing.- Food-Processing Smes: Target Group and Sample.- Quality Concepts of Food-Processing Smes.- Personnel-Related Concepts of Food-Processing Smes.- Quality And Personnel Concepts Of Food-Processing Smes - Summary.- Literature.- List of Figures and Tables.- Figures.- Tables.